U.S. beekeepers lost 40 percent of managed honeybee colonies between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018, an almost 7 percent increase from the previous year.

Greater colony mortality during winter pushed the loss rate higher — 30.7 percent from October to April, up from 2016-17’s record low of 21.1 percent.

Summer colony mortality was also tracked. Beekeepers lost 17.9 percent of managed colonies, similar to 2016-17.

The acceptable loss rate according to beekeepers is 20.6 percent, up from 18.7 percent in 2016-17.